If you’re researching surgical options in Korea, you’ll quickly notice one recurring theme: robotic surgery. Korea isn’t just an early adopter of this technology — it has become one of the most advanced robotic surgery markets in the world, with surgical volumes, published research, and clinical innovation that rival or surpass institutions in the United States and Europe.
For international patients, this matters directly. Robotic-assisted procedures typically mean smaller incisions, less blood loss, shorter hospital stays, and faster recovery — all important considerations when you’re traveling from abroad and want to minimize time away from home.
In this guide, we’ll break down how Korea became a regional leader in robotic surgery, and what each of the Big 5 university hospitals brings to the table.
Why Robotic Surgery in Korea Leads Asia
Korea’s robotic surgery journey began in 2005, when Severance Hospital performed the country’s first robotic-assisted procedures. Two decades later, annual robotic surgery volume in Korea has grown roughly eightfold — from around 10,000 procedures in 2005 to an estimated 80,000 in 2025, according to industry data presented by Intuitive Surgical Korea.
That scale is part of why Korea was chosen as the first country in Asia — and only the second in the world after the United States — to launch the da Vinci 5, Intuitive Surgical’s latest-generation robotic platform. According to Intuitive executives, the decision came down to surgical volume, speed, and skill: at Korea’s major centers, individual surgeons often perform hundreds of robotic procedures a year, which accelerates technique refinement across entire surgical teams.
There’s also a cultural factor. Korean patients and surgeons have historically prioritized minimizing visible scarring, which helped make Korea one of the earliest and heaviest adopters of single-port (SP) robotic systems — procedures performed through a single small incision, often hidden in the armpit or inside the mouth.
Severance Hospital: The World’s Volume Leader
Severance Hospital in Seoul holds a distinction few hospitals anywhere can claim: as of December 2023, it became the first single institution in the world to reach 40,000 robotic surgeries. Roughly one in ten robotic procedures performed nationwide in Korea takes place at Severance.
The hospital operates 10 surgical robots — the most of any hospital in Korea — spread across its main campus and the Yonsei Cancer Center. Robotic procedures span 17 clinical departments, with general surgery and urology accounting for the largest share of cases. Severance was also designated a Single-Port (SP) Robotic Surgery Epicenter by Intuitive Surgical in 2021, reflecting its role as a global training hub — the hospital has trained more than 2,200 medical professionals from dozens of countries.
Asan Medical Center: Breadth Across Specialties
Asan Medical Center introduced its first da Vinci robot in 2007 and reached 8,000 cumulative robotic procedures within nine years. In 2022, it became the first hospital in Korea to surpass 4,000 robotic surgeries in a single year.
What stands out at Asan is the sheer range of departments actively performing robotic procedures — urology, thoracic surgery, endocrine surgery, colorectal surgery, hepatobiliary and pancreatic surgery, gastrointestinal surgery, pediatric surgery, gynecology, and ENT are all represented. This breadth reflects Asan’s overall identity as one of Korea’s largest and busiest tertiary hospitals, with strong volume in complex cancer surgery.
Samsung Medical Center: Complex and Combination Cases
Samsung Medical Center has built a reputation for tackling surgically complex, high-difficulty cases with robotic platforms. One notable example: in 2014, a Samsung Medical Center surgical team became the first in the world to perform simultaneous robotic surgery for two separate cancers — gastric cancer and kidney cancer — in a single operation, reducing the need for two separate procedures and recovery periods.
The hospital’s robotic program spans gastrointestinal surgery, urology, gynecologic oncology, and thyroid/breast surgery, with an International Health Care Center that coordinates care for patients traveling from abroad.
SNUH: Pioneering the Next Generation of Robotic Technology
Seoul National University Hospital has operated a dedicated International Healthcare Center since 1999, offering one-stop interpretation, scheduling, and billing support for international patients.
On the technology front, SNUH’s Bundang campus has been among the first in Korea to apply da Vinci 5’s force-feedback technology in gynecologic surgery — allowing surgeons to physically sense tissue resistance during the procedure, a capability earlier robotic generations lacked. According to SNUH gynecology faculty, this is particularly relevant for patients seeking fertility-preserving surgery, where precision around healthy tissue is critical.
Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital: Full-Spectrum Robotic Care
Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital (run by the Catholic University of Korea) rounds out the Big 5 with a full robotic surgery program spanning urology, gynecology, general surgery, and thyroid cancer treatment — giving international patients a fifth strong option among Korea’s top-tier academic medical centers.
What This Means If You’re Planning Treatment in Korea
A few practical takeaways for international patients considering robotic surgery in Korea:
- Surgical volume correlates with outcomes. Hospitals performing thousands of robotic cases annually — like the Big 5 — generally offer surgeons with deep, specialty-specific experience.
- Ask which robotic platform will be used. Da Vinci Xi (multi-port, complex cases) and da Vinci SP (single-port, minimal scarring) serve different purposes; your surgeon can advise which fits your diagnosis.
- Get a personalized cost estimate. Robotic surgery is often only partially covered — or not covered — under Korea’s National Health Insurance for non-residents, and pricing varies by hospital, procedure, and complexity. Request a written quote through the hospital’s international clinic before booking travel.
- Factor in recovery time. One of robotic surgery’s biggest advantages for medical travelers is a shorter hospital stay and faster return to normal activity — worth discussing directly with your care coordinator when planning your trip length.
